A Lithuanian Kiwi, the Life of Jurgis (George) Cibulskis

'I'm not interested in going to a country that does not accept us as we are,' said Mečislovas Cibulskis when Canada rejected his family for repatriation because of his 8-year-old son's missing fingers on his right hand. New Zealand welcomed the DPs (Displaced Persons) with open arms at the end of WWII. From the moment the Lithuanian family arrived in Wellington in 1949, they embraced everything about their new homeland, even changing their names to the English versions. Never playing the victim, Jurgis/George Cibulskis adapted to whatever took his fancy despite his maimed hand. He became an elite sportsman and a serial dater—until he met Beverly and soon after landed his dream job. The 70s and 80s saw the rise and fall of some important New Zealand industries. Each time mergers, takeovers, and corporate shenanigans impacted George's work life, he moved on and learnt the lesson of life/work balance. Resilience, family, travel, and parties sustained George and his sophisticated, shopping-mad wife, Beverly, even when she was diagnosed with a debilitating illness. Nothing stopped them from living life to the max.